Filling apparatus for dispensing measured amounts of liquid into rigid or non-rigid containers



April 11, 1967 E. PELLERINO FILLING APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MEASURED AMOUNTS FIG2 INVENTOR, Efnes FellerimJ Filed Nov. 2, 1964 OF LIQUID INTO RIGID OR NON-RIGID CONTAINERS 22 28 lll/11111 L \29 Mll/711155 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,313,326 FEELING APPARATUS FR DISPENSING MEAS- URED AMGUNTS 0F LIQUID INTO RIGID 0R NGN-RIGID CQNTAINERS Ernest Pellerino, 325 Bleecker St., New York, N.Y. 10014 Filed Nov. 2, 1954, Ser. No. 408,149 17 Claims. (Cl. 141-40) The present invention relates to apparatus for filling containers with liquid up to a predetermined level so when the containers in a run are identical, each of them will receive the same amount of the liquid.

Heretofore, apparatus of this class required the container being filled, to be sealed against the entry of air therein. This presented no great problem when the container was a metal can, a glass bottle or other rigid receptacle.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved filling -apparatus in which the container being filled does not require it to be sealed for the apparatus to operate, hence non-rigid containers as for instance polyethylene squeeze bottles or even bags of pliable plastic sheeting can be lled with the apparatus taught herein, because all that is required is to bring the discharge nozzle into the container and to move an outside member in order to initiate the filling operation.

A further object thereof is to provide a novel and irnproved filling apparatus ot the character described, which is automatic in its action, reasonable in cost and efficient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

F or one practice of this invention, the filling apparatus has a product-receiving chamber from which there downwardly extends a discharge nozzle. The upper entrance opening of the nozzle is held normally closed by a springbiased poppet valve which is operable by a pneumatic cylinder to assume open condition. A two-Way slide valve normally shuts oli the supply of compressed air to said pneumatic cylinder at which time such cylinder is made communicative with the atmosphere. There is also a second cylinder having a piston slidable therein for the control of said slide valve. A tube secured along the discharge nozzle is adapted to enter the container to be lled, upon downward movement of the filling apparatus which is a unitary structure. A Vacuum supply is connected to the upper end of said tube. The piston in said second cylinder has an opening therethrough which is controlled by a normally open valve. There is a vent opening through the wall of said second cylinder to the space therein which is to one side of its piston. Said vacuum supply is also connected to the space in said second cylinder which is to the other side of its piston; provision being made that said valve controlling the opening through said piston, shall be in open condition after the vacuum action has moved said second cylinders piston to place said slide valve in the condition for admitting compressed air into said pneumatic cylinder where upon said pneumatic cylinder is made non-communicative with the atmosphere. The piston of the second cylinder need be moved manually or by other outside means to set said slide valve into condition to initiate the filling operation. The discharge nozzle is provided with a vent near its upper end. A normally open spring-biased valve controlling said vent is arranged to be automatically closed when the nozzle and the tube it carries are lowered into the container which is to be filled, and when said nozzle and tube are raised, said valve will automatically assume its normal open condition.

To operate, the apparatus is lowered a predetermined distance so the lower end of said tube is at a definite ICC level in the container to be filled. This 4downward movement operates the valve to close the vent in the upper region of the discharge nozzle. Now the piston in said second cylinder is moved so the valve controlling the opening through such piston is closed and said slide valve is opened. This causes a discharge of the product from the receiving chamber and down through the nozzle into the container.

As soon as the level of the liquid in the container reaches the lower end of said tube, vacuum action becomes effective to move the piston of the second cylinder to close the slide valve. This causes the poppet valve to close and no further liquid from the supply chamber reaches the nozzle. When the apparatus is moved upwardly to its normal rest position, the vent to the upper end of the discharge nozzle is open and all liquid remaining in said nozzle pours into the container. Any liquid in said tube also pours into the container. In a run of identical containers, the total amount of liquid entering into each of them will always be alike. A trap is provided in the vacuum supply line to catch any liquid which may have been sucked up. In the particular embodiment illustrated herein, both cylinders are upright; the piston rod of the lirst cylinder being the stem of the poppet valve controlling the iiow to the dischargel nozzle and the piston of the second cylinder being acted on by vacuum action at its underside.

Said nozzle is really the outlet port of a valve structure whose inlet is for connection to a supply of liquid for iilling containers.

I will now describe the apparatus in greater detail for which I shall refer to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing similar oharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. l is an elevational view of a lilling apparatus embodying the teachings of this invention. This view is shown mostly in section. The apparatus is here shown in its normal raised rest condition, ready to receive a container to be filled.

FIG. 2 is a reduced elevational view of the apparatus showing same in operation. Several of the parts have been shown broken to expose various components therein.

FG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2.

In the drawing which shows a preferred embodiment of this invention, the filling apparatus designated generally by the numeral I5, has a first upright pneumatic cylinder i6 whose downwardly extending piston rod 17 is the stem of a normally closed poppet valve 13 arranged when open, to connect the product intake chamber 19 to a discharge nozzle 20 extending downwardly therefrom. The upwardly extending rod 21 of the piston 22 in a second upright cylinder 23, serves as the slide component of a twoway slide valve 24, which controls the operation of the pneumatic cylinder 16. As will be explained, upward movement of the rod 21 initiates the filling operation, and vacuum action is provided to move the piston 22 and said rod downward, to determine the end of a filling cycle.

Said piston 22 is normally in its lowered position as shown in FIG. l, resting against the ledge 28, at which time the said rod 21 of the valve 24 is in position that the supply of compressed air A, connected `at intake port 49, is blocked from entering the space below the piston 25 in the cylinder 16, and such space is communicative with the atmosphere through the Vent 32 which is from the space 33 above the piston 22 in the cylinder 23. When said rod is raised as in FIG. 2, which may be done manually, it is evident that the lifting of the piston 22 will close the vent 32, and said rod will be in position that the supply -fo compressed air A will liow t-hrough the connecting passage S3 into the space below the piston 25 in the cylinder r16, whereupon said piston 25 will be raised against the .action of the spring 26, and so the valve 1S will open. Said piston 22 has an opening 29 therethrough which is controlled by a valve consisting of a valve stem 30, loosely positioned through said opening, and a head 30' on such stern, positioned within the space 33 and adapted to close said opening 29, when the piston 22 is raised as shown in FIG. 2. When said piston 22 is in its lowered position as in FIG. 1, this opening 29 is open, whereupon the space 31 and 33 are communicative. A vacuum supply V entered at 34 into a trap 35, as shown in FIG. 2, is directed into one branch of a T-fitting 37, for 'distribution into the space 31 and into the upper end of a tube 3S of relatively small diameter; the second branch of said fitting being connected to said space 31 by a hose 36, and the upper end of said tube 38 being connected to the third branch of said fitting 37. The lower part of said tube 38 is along the nozzle and is releasably secured thereto `for vadjustment therealong. There is a vent 39 to the upper end region of said nozzle the end of said vent, which is communicative with the atmosphere, is normally open, but is controlled by a poppet valve 40, which closes said vent end, as will be explained. The entire apparatus hereinabove set lforth is a unitary structure which is carried on a vertically slidable rod 41 mounetd on the frame 42, so it can be lowered by any suitable means `from a normal raised position so lthe lower end of the tube 38 shall be at a predetermined level within the container 43 which is to be filled, as shown in FIG. 2. The fixed support 44 -on which the container sets, carries an adjustable stop 45 which intercepts the vertically slidable stem 46 when the apparatus is lowered, thus causing the spring-biased tiexible member 47 to close the valve 4f). An adjustment screw 48 to change the stress in the compression coil spring 26, may he provided to determine the air pressure required to lift the piston which is within the cylinder 16. The supply of compressed air is entered at 49. The liquid for filling the containers, cornes from a raised tank (not shown) and enters the chamber 19 at entrance P, through a suitable hose 50.

Assuming the supplies of liquid, compressed air and vacuum suction properly connected to feed the apparatus, its condition when in normal raised rest position, is shown in FIG. 1. After placing a container 43 which is to be filled, onto the support table 44, ydirectly below the nozzle 20, the apparatus 15 is lowered so said nozzle and the tube 38 enter said empty container. A stop means which may be an adjustable collar 51 on the rod 41, determines the lowered position of said apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2.

To initiate t-he filling operation after the apparatus is lowered and of course the valve 40 is closed, pull the stem 21 upwardly by hand or other suitable outside means, until the boss 52 contacts the ceiling of the cylinder 23, whereupon the slide valve 24 is opened to admit a supply of compressed air through the passage 53 and into the Cylinder 16, to raise the piston and thus open the valve 18, to allow liquid to fiow from the chamber 19, down through the nozzle 26 and into the container 43. Also, upon such upward movement of the stern 211, the head of the loose valve stern 30, will close the opening 29'. Whent-he action of the vacuum supply in the space 31 becomes effective, such closure will be tightly maintained. While the `lower end of the tube 38 is open, the strength of the vacuum `action in the space 31 is insuflicient to draw the snugly fitted slidable piston 22 downward hecause air from the atmosphere is entering therein through the bottom end of the tube 38. But as soon as the level of the liquid in the container 43 reaches the lower end of said tube, such end is sealed thereby, thus making the vacuum action in the space 31 effective and hence the piston 22 will be drawn downward, causing the slide 21 to shift. This shuts off the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 16, whereupon the spring 26, will cause the piston 25 to move downward, expelling the air -beneath it in said cylinder, through the passage 53, thence into the space 33 and finally out to the atmosphere through the vent 32. The instant the piston 25 is down, the Ivalve 18 will be closed and the flow of liquid from the chamber 19 halted. Very little liquid, in fact just a few `drops will be sucked into the tube 38, only to flow quickly back again into the container 43, because the suction action is made ineffective. This is evident, because as soon as the head 36' is off the opening 29, the space 31 is made communicative with the atmosphere through the vent 32. The presence of the trap 35 is only a safety measure, which I find may be omitted in most instances. The liquid remaining in the nozzle 20 will also flow into the container 43, but for such to occur quickly. I have provided the vent 39 which is open to atmosphere upon the opening of the valve 40 during the upward movement of the apparatus 15. The stern 46 which is loose, will move down due to the action of the spring 54 and its own weight, as soon as it is away from the stop 45. When the vent 39 and its control valve 40 are omitted, it just takes a little longer for the nozzle 20` to empty, but the diameter of said nozzle should be sufficient to allow this.

The total amount of liquid poured into a container 43 which occurs during one reciprocation of the apparatus 1,5, is always identical. In setting up the apparatus for any run to fill identical containers, the collar 51 is adjusted, so that when the apparatus is lowered as in FIG. 2, the level of the bottom end of the tube 38 is such that the drainage into the container from said tube and the nozzle 20 after the valve 18 is closed, will bring the level of the liquid in the container to the required level of iill. This is done by actual test until the proper position of the collar 51 is determined.

Although I have shown this apparatus lowerable so that the nozzle enters a container on a fixed support, it is applicable where the apparatus 15 is fixed and the container is raised and lowered as is well known in this art.- This apparatus may be a single unit arranged to be moved by hand, or as a plurality of such units ganged together to fill a number of containers simultaneously, which is readily understandable to those versed in the art without further illustration, as well as that these units 15 may be the lling nozzles of automatic filling machinery, in which the lifting of the stems 21 could be done by air cylinders, for example.

When the liquid dealt with has the nature to foam, it is advisable that the nozzle 20 reach to near the containers bottom, which is also a well known practice.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and vari-- ous applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description and showing herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

y1. In a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a normally closed first valve structure having an intake port for connection to a supply of liquid with which containers are to be filled and a discharge port which lis a downwardly extending discharge nozzle whereby liquid entering the intake port is free when said valve is open to flow down through said nozzle into a container which is constantly communicative with the atmosphere, a tube extending along and mounted to move with said nozzle, to extend into a container, a cylinder having a piston movably fitted therein; said piston having an opening therethrough making communicative a first space in said cylinder, which is the space to one side of said piston, with the second space which is the space to the other side of said piston in said cylinder; said piston being normally at a position in said cylinder where it is only free for movement therein to increase said first space, a second normally open valve means controlling said opening in said piston, means to close said second valve means, made operative upon movement of said piston to increase said first space; said second space being communicative with the atmosphere; said first space having an intake port; said intake port to said first space and the upper end of said tube being connected to a supply of vacuum, means actuated by movement of said piston to open said :first valve when said piston moves to increase said first space, means for moving said piston to increase said first space; the strength of said vacuum supply being insufficient to move said piston unless the bottom end of said tube is sealed; said sealing occurring when the level of the liquid in the container is sufiiciently high to close the bottom end of said tube, means to close the first valve and means to open the second valve, upon the return of said piston to its normal rest position within the cylinder and means for relatively moving said first valve structure and a container to be filled, so the bottom end of said tube is at a predetermined height from the bottom of the container and for moving them apart so the container can be removed and replaced with the next container to be filled.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the position of said tube is adjustable along said moule to alter the position of the lower end of said tube in relation to the lower end of said nozzle.

v3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said nozzle is provided with a vent near its upper end and wherein said apparatus includes a third normally open valve means controlling said vent, with means to close said third valve means when the tube is entered into the container. t

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said yfirst and third valve means are arranged to move as a unit and wherein said apparatus includes a means to hold said third valve means closed when said tube is at its lowest position in the container.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first valve means and said cylinder are arranged as a unitary structure.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cylinder is upright with said first space therein lowermost and said second valve means comprising an upright shank positioned loosely through said opening in the piston and there being unoccupied space in said opening; the lower end of said shank resting on the bottom end wall of said cylinder when the piston is in its normal lowered position within said cylinder and the upper end of said shank having a head in the second space for closing the upper end of said opening when said piston is raised to increase said first space; the lower end of said shank contacting said bottom end wall lbefore said piston is in its returned normally lowered position; said means to close said second valve being the action of gravity on said headed shank; Said first and second spaces in the cylinder being communicative when said head is ofi said opening in said piston.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a trap interposed in the connection of the vacuum supply to said tube.

8. in a filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a normally closed first valve structure having an intake port for connection to a supply of liquid with which containers are to be filled and a discharge port which is a downwardly extending discharge nozzle whereby liquid entering the intake port is free when said valve is open, to flow down through said nozzle into a container which is constantly communicative with the atmosphere, a first pneumatic cylinder having a first piston movably fitted therein, operatively connected with said first valve, which first piston when moved yaway from one end of said first cylinder, is arranged to open said first valve; said first cylinder having an intake port for the admission of a supply of compressed air into said end thereof so that when compressed air is entered therein, said first piston will move to open said first valve, means to return said first piston to its normal rest position whereby said first valve is closed when said fair supply is stopped from entering said first cylinder, a second normally closed valve having an intake port connected to a supply of compressed air, and a discharge port connected to the intake -port of said rst cylinder, a second cylinder having a second piston movably fitted therein, operatively connected with said second valve, which second piston when shifted away from one end of said second cylinder, is arranged to open said second valve; said second piston having an opening therethrough making communicative a first space in said second cylinder, which is the space to one side of said second piston, with the second space in said second cylinder which is the space to the other side of said second piston; said first space being at said one end of said second cylinder; said second piston being normally at a position in said second cylinder where it is only free for movement therein to increase said first space, a third normally open valve means controlling said opening in said second piston, means to close said third valve means, made operative upon movement of said second piston to increase said first space; said second cylinder having a Vent opening making said second space communicate with the atmosphere; said first space having an intake port; said intake port to said rst space and the upper end of said tube being connected to la supply of vacuum; the strength of said vacuum supply being insufiicient to move said second piston unless the bottom end of said tube is sealed; said sealing occurring when the level of the liquid in the container is sufficiently high to close the bottom end of said tube, means for moving said second piston to increase said first space whereby said second valve is opened rand means for relatively moving said nozzle and a container under it whereby said tube is entered into the container so the bottom end of said tube is at a predetermined height from the bottom of the container and for moving them apart so the container can be removed and replaced with the neXt container to be filled.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the position of said tube is adjustable along said nozzle to alter the position ofthe lower end of said tube in relation to the lower end of said nozzle.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said nozzle is provided with a vent near its upper end and wherein said apparatus includes a fourth normally `open valve means controlling said vent, with means to close said fourth Valve means when the tube is entered into the container.

11. An apparatus yas defined in claim 1t), wherein said first and fourth valve means are arranged to move as a unit and wherein said apparatus includes a means to hold said third valve means closed when said tube is at its lowest position in the container.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said cylinders are part of said unit.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim S, wherein said first valve means and said cylinders are arranged as a unitary structure.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim S, wherein the second cylinder is upright with said first space therein lowermost and said third valve means comprising an upright shank positioned loosely through said opening in the second piston and there being unoccupied space in said opening; the lower end of said shank resting on the bottom end wall of said second cylinder when the second piston is in its normal lowered position within said second cylinder and the upper end of said shank having a head in the second space for closing the upper end of said opening when said second piston is raised to increase said first space; the lower end of said shank contacting said bottom end wall before said second piston is in its returned normally lowered position; said means to close said third valve being the action of gravity on said headed shank; said iirst and second spaces in the second cylinder being communicative when the head on said shank is off said opening in said second piston.

15. An apparatus yas dened in claim 8, including a trap interposed in the connection of the vacuum supply to said tube.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the means to return the first piston to its normal rest position, comprises sprin:7 means biasing said first piston to said rest position and a normally open valve means controlling means making the inlet to the rst cylinder communicative with the atmosphere, operated to close by the movement of said second pisotn to increase the rst space in the second cylinder, whereby said last-mentioned valve means is closed before the rst valve means is opened by such movement of the second piston.

17. An apparatus as dencd in claim 16, wherein said last-mentioned valve means and the second valve means connect said intake port of the rst cylinder with the compressed air supply.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,413,194 12/1946 Russell 141-59 FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1936 Italy. 9/l956 Sweden.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. S. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FILLING APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, THE COMBINATION OF A NORMALLY CLOSED FIRST VALVE STRUCTURE HAVING AN INTAKE PORT FOR CONNECTION TO A SUPPLY OF LIQUID WITH WHICH CONTAINERS ARE TO BE FILLED AND A DISCHARGE PORT WHICH IS A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING DISCHARGE NOZZLE WHEREBY LIQUID ENTERING THE INTAKE PORT IS FREE WHEN SAID VALVE IS OPEN TO FLOW DOWN THROUGH SAID NOZZLE INTO A CONTAINER WHICH IS CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATIVE WITH THE ATMOSPHERE, A TUBE EXTENDING ALONG AND MOUNTED TO MOVE WITH SAID NOZZLE, TO EXTEND INTO A CONTAINER, A CYLINDER HAVING A PISTON MOVABLY FITTED THEREIN; SAID PISTON HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH MAKING COMMUNICATIVE A FIRST SPACE IN SAID CYLINDER, WHICH IS THE SPACE TO ONE SIDE OF SAID PISTON, WITH THE SECOND SPACE WHICH IS THE SPACE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER; SAID PISTON BEING NORMALLY AT A POSITION IN SAID CYLINDER WHERE IT IS ONLY FREE FOR MOVEMENT THEREIN TO INCREASE SAID FIRST SPACE, A SECOND NORMALLY OPEN VALVE MEANS CONTROLLING SAID OPENING IN SAID PISTON, MEANS TO CLOSE SAID SECOND VALVE MEANS, MADE OPERATIVE UPON MOMENT OF SAID PISTON TO INCREASE SAID FIRST SPACE; SAID SECOND SPACE BEING COMMUNICATIVE WITH THE ATMOSPHERE; SAID FIRST SPACE HAVING AN INTAKE PORT; SAID INTAKE PORT TO SAID FIRST SPACE AND THE UPPER END OF SAID TUBE BEING CONNECTED TO A SUPPLY OF VACUUM, MEANS ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON TO OPEN SAID FIRST VALVE WHEN SAID PISTON MOVES TO INCREASE SAID FIRST SPACE; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PISTON TO INCREASE SAID FIRST SPACE; THE STRENGTH OF SAID VACUUM SUPPLY BEING INSUFFICIENT TO MOVE SAID PISTON UNLESS THE BOTTOM END OF SAID TUBE IS SEALED; SAID SEALING OCCURING WHEN THE LEVEL OF THE LIQUID IN THE CONTAINER IS SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO CLOSE THE BOTTOM END OF SAID TUBE, MEANS TO CLOSE THE FIRST VALVE AND MEANS TO OPEN THE SECOND VALVE, UPON THE RETURN OF SAID PISTON TO ITS NORMALLY REST POSITION WITHIN THE CYLINDER AND MEANS FOR RELATIVELY MOVING SAID FIRST VALVE STRUCTURE AND A CONTAINER TO BE FILLED, SO THE BOTTOM END OF THE TUBE IS AT A PERDETERMINED HEIGHT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER AND FOR MOVING THEM APART SO THE CONTAINER CAN BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH THE NEXT CONTAINER TO BE FILLED. 